Sweet Home Alabama

 

No Closer Tanner Scott. No Set-Up Men in Anthony Bass & Steven Okert. No problem?! 

Each of Scott, Bass, and Okert had Pitched in the first 3 Games of a 4 Game Series in D.C to kick off the month of July. The Marlins were looking for a 4 Game Sweep over those Nationals on the very 4th of July 🇺🇸, but to say the Fish really needed Starter Braxton Garrett to go deep into the Game that day, may be an understatement.

"Our Bullpen's a little taxed, it was in the back of my mind to try and get a few more Innings out for the Bullpen" said one Braxton Garrett after carrying a Shutout into the 8th Inning on July 4th during an eventual Extra Inning Win for the Marlins in Washington. 

That gritty performance from the Alabama native has sparked what has been a terrific Month of July for Garrett. Coming into tonight's Game in Cincinnati, the Rookie Left-Hander is 1-0 with a very impressive 1.80 ERA since his D.C Outing.

The Marlins have gone 3-1 in Garrett's last 4 Starts. He's gone at least 6 Innings in 3 of those 4 Appearances on the Mound, 25 K's in 25 Innings, while Opponent's are Hitting a minuscule .131 off the Marlins Lefty in the Month of July. A Month that could possibly see Braxton Garrett receive honors as July's Top National League Rookie.

MLB Trade Deadline 

Tonight's contest in Cincinnati for the Marlins could have a direct collaboration with what happens in the next 6 days. The MLB Trading Deadline is this coming Tuesday at 6 P.M. The Marlins 46-51, find themselves 4 1/2 Games out of the N.L's Third & Final Wild Card spot. Will the Fish Sell or Buy? The answer could be both.

It would not be surprising to see the Marlins Trade a Veteran Reliever or 2 before Tuesday. Dylan Floro & Richard Bleier both are controlled through 2023, and both have turned they're Seasons around after struggles out of the 2022 gates.

Floro, like Garrett, has also been terrific in the month of July, where the Right-Hander has found himself Pitching in high leverage spots again, the way he did all of last Season (Which even included finishing the Year as the Marlins Closer). In Floro's last 12 Appearances of 2022, he has a 1.59 ERA, with an 11-2 K to BB Ratio. Floro still has a Year of Arbitration left after earning a $3 Million Dollar Salary in 2022.

Bleier's July has too been solid after Inking a 2 Year Extension worth $6 Million Dollars in March. The Marlins Left-Hander hasn't given up an Earned Run in the Month, after some mighty early Season struggles. The Salaries of both Bleier & Floro coupled with the Late Inning emergences of Steven Okert & Anthony Bass (Whom too may be shopped by the Marlins) could all factor into upcoming decisions. 

It seems the Marlins are in such a similar boat they always find themselves in this time of year when it pertains to desperately needing Offense, now, and in the future. You've heard the names Joey Wendle, and today Garrett Cooper floating around the rumor mill. But with both guys under Club control through Arbitration next year. Is it really in the Marlins best interest to Trade 2 of their most reliable Bats of an extremely weak Offense?

Will the Fish look high and low to try and find any kind of Offensive weapons before Tuesday's Deadline? That's also why you hear a name like Starting Pitcher Pablo Lopez out in about. Because he's exactly the kind of Player that can net you what you're looking for. What will the Marlins do? Games like today may be deciding factors. So Go Fish!